After going hitless in his first 10 at-bats in the World Series, Shane Victorino ripped a bases-loaded double that gave the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead in Game 6. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON â?? Seeing the bases loaded brought out the best in Shane Victorino this postseason. And as a result, Victorino and the Boston Red Sox are World Series champions.

After going hitless in his first 10 at-bats in the World Series, Victorino ripped a bases-loaded double that ignited the Fenway Park crowd and gave the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead in Game 6.

The third-inning double against Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha was Victorino's first hit since Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

"He's got a real flair for the dramatic," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "Even though his numbers weren't great in the postseason, I think every team we played would tell you they knew he was capable of making a big difference in every game."

Then in the fourth against reliever Lance Lynn, Victorino's bases-loaded single drove in another run to make it 6-0.

It also extended his impressive record this postseason of coming through when the sacks were full of Sox. In the ALCS against Detroit Tigers, Victorino's grand slam turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead and propelled the Red Sox to the World Series.

So in three bases-loaded at-bats in this year's playoffs, Victorino reached safely all three times and drove in a total of eight runs. It also gave him a record 20 RBI in bases loaded situations in his postseason career. (Second place on the list? Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees with 13.)

"Vic's got so many big hits for us. You just expect it. He's always up in a huge situation. He's always coming through," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who scored Boston's first run on Victorino's double.

Despite all the accolades, the playoffs had been less than memorable for the 32-year-old veteran in his first season with the Red Sox.

Victorino struggled with his swing, gave up switch-hitting, was hit by a pitch a record seven times and missed two games with stiffness in his lower back.

"He's been unbelievable this year having to go through what he did, just hitting right-handed. That's hard to do," said shortstop Stephen Drew. "Kudos to him. It's awesome."

The discomfort that kept Victorino out of the lineup in Game 4 in St. Louis wasn't serious, but manager John Farrell chose not to use him in Game 5.

"John and I discussed before the game," Victorino said. "The magnitude of the game and what had happened the night before and I totally understand what he was â?¦ giving me that extra day and keeping the lineup the way it was."

When Victorino returned to the lineup Wednesday night, he was batting sixth in the order instead of his customary No. 2 spot.

The idea was to keep Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz at the top of the order, a strategy Farrell used successfully during Game 5 in St. Louis. And when it came time for a big hit to propel Boston to victory, Victorino was in the right place at the right time.

"The playoffs anyway is about timely hitting, pitching and defense," said Drew, who snapped his own postseason slump with a home run in Game 6. "We were able to do that. "

Speaking of defense, Victorino was honored a day earlier with an American League Gold Glove Award for his fielding excellence â?? in his first year playing right field.

"More than anything I think the magnitude of moving to right field, the magnitude of playing in Fenway Park, this was a big surprise," he said before the game. "I've always worked hard on my defense. And I've always taken pride in my defense."

But in Game 6, his offense provided the spark that gave the Red Sox even more reason to be proud.

When the World Series trophy was passed to Victorino, it was certainly in good hands.